Getting Involved

Alex Rodrigo Condori Gabriel
Birthday 6/8/02

Alex turned 6-years-old in June and is currently in the second grade. He is very intelligent and wants to be a mechanic when he grows up. Alex is a kind and happy child who gets along with everyone in the house. He likes to help with chores and delights in being with Mamá María Eugenia. Alex continues to adapt to life in the Villa, but the transition has been hard for him. He speaks with Carla, the Villa psychologist, and Mamá María Eugenia to share his emotions and to understand he is in a much safer place than before. Santiago, who now lives in the boys’ youth house, has helped give Alex advice on how to be successful in the Villa and achieve his goals by studying. In Casa Kantuta, Alex enjoys playing board games and spending time with Wilson making up their own games. He also likes to ride bikes around the Villa and is getting much better. Alex participates in a program called “Grow through Playing” with older boys in the Villa and is well accepted by them. He also attends the Good Shepherd program in the Villa and is developing a strong faith and prayer routine.

 

Delina Rejas
Birthday 3/16/97

Delina turned 12-years-old in March and is currently in the third grade. She is a good student, and her teacher is very fond of her, and for good reason. Delina is a kind and compassionate girl, who looks to help others in need. She shares with everyone else in Casa Kantuta and is liked by all. She loves to play with many kinds of toys, and Mamá María Eugenia says that Delina never had any toys before she came to the Villa. In fact, when she arrived, Delina was malnourished, and the children in Casa Kantuta collectively helped encourage her to eat and take care of herself. Delina has since improved a lot and loves living in Casa Kantuta. She is sweet to her biological sister, Marina, and helps her to wash clothes and do homework. Delina delights in reading any kind of book, and Mamá María Eugenia likens her to Maribel, who used to always walk around with a book in hand. When she grows up, Delina wants to be an elementary school teacher. One of her goals right now is to learn how to swim, as she never had a chance to do so where she lived previously in the countryside. Delina hopes that she will have a chance to take swimming lessons this year. She also is preparing to receive her first communion by attending catechesis classes in the adjacent City of the Children institution. She has a strong faith and always looks forward to these classes on Fridays.

 

Felicidad Calani Auka
Birthday 7/24/97

Felicidad turned 12-years-old last month and is currently in the third grade. She likes to do her homework and is doing well in her studies this year. She also works with Rita in the Villa library to find learning strategies that work best for her. Felicidad greatly values living in Casa Kantuta and says that God blessed her when her younger sister, Silvia, arrived last year. Felicidad helps her to organize her room, do homework, and shows her how to cook. She is a very responsible girl, who takes pride in assisting around the house and helping Mamá María Eugenia when needed. She is highly motivated and takes initiative to cook on her own and try new activities. She attends judo lessons in the Villa, and it is quite a sight to see when sweet Felicidad throws other girls to the mat with precision. When she is not practicing martial arts, Felicidad likes to garden and says that it reminds her of the countryside where she used to live. She also attends Child Missionary groups with the nuns who come to the Villa on Saturdays. Felicidad has a strong faith and sets a good example for others in the house. This year, she wants to challenge herself by joining a basketball team outside of the Villa and hopes to have this opportunity soon.

 

Jhonny Vargas Limachi
Birthday 1/10/98

Jhonny is 11-years-old and currently in the fifth grade. He is an enthusiastic and outgoing boy, who likes to meet new people and include them in activities. It has been a difficult transition for Jhonny, since he game to the Villa in January of this year. He is a free spirit, and the structure of living and sharing the responsibilities with others in a house has been tough. honny is intelligent but could benefit from more dedication to his studies, where he has struggled this year. He does love to ride bikes and joke around with people. He is a talented soccer player and even can hold his own with the older boys from Casa San Martín, with whom he likes to hang out. Jhonny would like to be able to join a team and hopes to have the opportunity later this year. He also likes listening to reggaeton music and, like many in the Villa, was dying to go to the recent Daddy Yankee concert in the local soccer stadium. Jhonny has an ear for music and tries to arrive early to spiritual reflections in the Villa, so that he can play the drum. On Saturdays, Jhonny enjoys attending Child Missionary groups with the nuns who come to the Villa, and he is the oldest in the group. Mamá María Eugenia is helping him to develop his faith, and Jhonny has already received his first communion.

 

Marina Condori Rejas
Birthday 4/25/01

Marina turned 8-years-old in April and is currently in the first grade. She is doing well in school this year, and Mamá María Eugenia says that the Montessori schooling she received last year in the Villa helped her to become more organized and responsible. Marina is a happy, calm, and kind girl, who gets along with everyone in the house. She is particularly close to her biological sister, Delina, who helps Marina with her homework and chores. Marina speaks with Mamá María Eugenia openly about the death of her biological mother from cancer and remembers how she told her to work hard and enjoy life. Mamá María Eugenia says that Marina is the most grateful in Casa Kantuta for the house, clothes, and food she has received from Amistad. She welcomed Christ into her life through the Good Shepherd program in the Villa and regularly prays at night with Mamá María Eugenia, always giving thanks for the people who pray for and support her. Since coming to the Villa, Marina has learned to read and write and is responsible with her chores. She loves to play with dolls and balls and almost any type of game outside attracts her attention. Although at first shy around new people, Marina is a sociable girl who delights in being hugged and complimented by visitors.

 

Neysa Guzmán Chávez
Birthday 1/12/96

Neysa is 13-years-old and currently in the seventh grade. As the oldest in Casa Kantuta, Neysa helps Mamá María Eugenia to take care of the younger children and set limits for them. Neysa has had some difficulty in school this year, but not for lack of intelligence. She is very shy and reserved and has struggled in Music for not singing in front of others and in Math for not going to the board to work problems. Neysa has benefited from speaking weekly with Carla, the Villa psychologist, to encounter strategies that will help her overcome her social discomfort. She feels comfortable in Casa Kantuta, where she is organized and responsible. Neysa has made limited improvement this year with her weight, but she knows that she needs to eat more even though she doesn’t feel hungry. Over the recent winter vacation, Neysa improved her cooking skills and wants to learn to make baked goods. She also would like to learn to play the guitar and hopes to have the opportunity to do so later this year. Neysa is a thoughtful and sentimental girl, and she has spent many hours embroidering a cloth that she hopes to finish soon for a friend back in the States.

 

Noemí (Noemina) Ayala Gutiérrez
Birthday 9/3/98

Noemina is currently 10-years-old and in the third grade. She has improved a lot this year in her studies with a new teacher and is making good grades. Noemina also has benefited this year by meeting weekly with the Villa psychologist, Carla, to move forward from her past and look hopefully to the future. She shares a room with Delina, and the two girls have a good relationship. Noemina helps to set limits for Delina and gives her advice on how to handle situations. Noemina has a great interest in taking dance classes and hopes that she will have a chance to do so. She also likes to play the drums and has good rhythm. Not many people know that soft-spoken Noemina wants to be a singer when she grows up. She comments, “People say I have a good voice,” before sheepishly looking away and shrugging her shoulders. Mamá María Eugenia believes that given the opportunity to develop her skills, Noemina will grow more self-assured and successful in all aspects of her life. Right now, Noemina is preparing for her first confession and communion by attending classes in the adjacent City of the Children institution and is excited about these steps in her spiritual path.

 

Silvia Calani Auka
Birthday 1/09/01

Silvia is 8-years-old and currently in the first grade. Although she came to the Villa mid-year, she learned good work habits and organizational skills from attending the Montessori school. Now in first grade, Silvia has learned to read and write and is doing very well, gladly completing her homework when she comes home in the afternoon. Mamá María Eugenia says that Silvia has an investigative mind and is always asking questions. Together, they look for the answers, and Silvia loves these opportunities to spend time with Mamá María Eugenia. It is difficult to describe how elated Silvia is to be reunited with her biological sister, Felicidad. The two girls seemingly share a single heartbeat and despite the fact that Felicidad is four years older, it is Silvia who constantly wants to protect her big sister.

Silvia enjoys playing jump rope and helping out in the kitchen. Whether it is peeling potatoes or cutting up vegetables, she always wants to be of assistance. Silvia has learned faith and spirituality in the Good Shepherd program and talks with Mamá María Eugenia about Bible stories and parables. In addition to these, Silvia also likes Disney stories, like Snow White and Cinderella. Recently, she has also learned to embroider and has been helping Felicidad finish her art project for school (pictured above). A gentle and considerate girl with a beautiful smile, Silvia quickly captures the hearts of visitors to Casa Kantuta.

 

Wilson Guzmán Chávez
Birthday 6/15/99

Wilson turned 10-years-old in June and is currently in the second grade. He attends a special education school, where he receives personalized instruction. Wilson is quite an intelligent boy, but he struggles to stay focused on tasks and control his impulsive behavior. The small class size in his school has helped Wilson learn more easily, and he has continued to improve in these difficult areas by meeting with a neurologist. When he turned 10-years-old in June, Wilson said that he had become more mature. And in fact, Mamá María and other children in Casa Kantuta have noticed a difference. When Wilson wrongs someone, he asks forgiveness and offers to make things right by washing their clothes or helping out with other chores.

Recently, Wilson has become more responsible with his chores and homework. Mamá María has found that giving Wilson space and options is the key for him to work effectively. Wilson also succeeds when he has a system of rewards in place. Small prizes like a half-hour of computer play or superhero stickers help Wilson to stay focused on tasks until completion. And whether he is working or playing, Wilson is always laughing. He is a happy child, who shares his light-hearted spirit and imagination with others. The girls of Casa Kantuta, and Noemina in particular, are very sweet to Wilson and often invite him to join in their games, which he does with enthusiasm.

Many visitors to Casa Kantuta probably remember Wilson with a steady flow of mucus running down his nose. However, this year Mamá María took Wilson to an ENT, who diagnosed Wilson with a dust allergy. After only a couple weeks of treatment, this problem virtually went away, and Wilson says he feels relief now that he does not have to blow his nose all the time. Truly, this has been a year of growth and improvement for Wilson.

 

Mamá María Eugenia Hidalgo
Casa Kantuta

Mamá María Eugenia has been the loving mother for the children in Casa Kantuta for ten years. She is the longest tenured mamá in the Villa and was honored with a mass earlier this year for her unwavering service to the children of Amistad. Mamá María Eugenia feels blessed to be the head of Casa Kantuta, saying, “God has given me the gift to care for these children and teach them love and values. It is no longer a job for me but my life’s mission.” Indeed, Mamá María Eugenia has a unique gift, and this year she has handled gracefully the departure and arrival of new children. She notes that it was tough to let go of Ciprian, Jaime, and Mauricio, who returned to live with their biological mother, but at the same time felt very blessed with the arrivals of Jhonny and Alex. Mamá María Eugenia was proud that the whole house welcomed these boys and helped them to find their own identities in the Villa. She marvels, “It is beautiful to watch how the children who have been with me for so long, Neysa, Noemina, and Wilson, look after the six who have come during the past two years. It is a reflection of the love and support they received when they were new to the Villa.”

Mamá María Eugenia points out that she is blessed with two families in her life. Her niece, Paula, comes to Casa Kantuta periodically to celebrate birthdays and help the children with their homework. On her days off, Mamá María Eugenia also goes to take care of her mother, who admires her daughter’s dedication and stamina for working with the children in her care.

Earlier this year, Mamá María Eugenia purchased an exercise bike and rides it as a form of physical therapy for her foot, as well as to maintain a high energy level. She smiles and says, “I want to have plenty of strength to keep up with my children, because I plan to be here as long as my health permits.”